By Abubakar Rabilu, Gombe
The Director-General of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR), Mr Dasuki Ibrahim Arabi, has called for stronger institutions, real-time disaster data and improved inter-agency coordination to strengthen Nigeria’s preparedness and response to emergencies.
Arabi made the call at the 2026 Annual Emergency Response and Simulation Summit in Abuja, where he was honoured with an honorary fellowship in recognition of his contributions to public sector reforms and institutional development.
The summit also featured the launch of the ECRMI Real-Time Disaster Data Management System Platform, an initiative designed to provide timely and reliable information to support emergency preparedness, early warning and response.
Arabi said the growing frequency and complexity of emergencies required Nigeria to move beyond a largely reactive approach towards systems capable of anticipating risks, issuing early warnings and mobilising resources before crises escalate.
He stressed that accurate and accessible disaster data was essential for effective decision-making, resource allocation and coordination among emergency-response agencies.
“Effective emergency management should not be limited to responding after incidents occur. It requires institutions that are prepared, responsive, coordinated and resilient,” he said.
The BPSR boss described the ECRMI platform as an important step towards leveraging technology to improve disaster preparedness and response.
However, he cautioned that technology alone could not guarantee effective emergency management, noting that digital platforms must be backed by institutional reforms, clearly defined responsibilities, skilled personnel, interoperability and strong accountability mechanisms.
He also called for responsible information sharing, stressing the need to safeguard the security, integrity and proper use of disaster-related data.
Arabi advocated a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to emergency management, involving government agencies, communities, academia, technology companies, development partners and the private sector.
According to him, digital transformation, innovation, performance management and institutional capacity development are critical to building a more responsive and effective public service.
He said the success of digital governance initiatives should ultimately be measured by their impact on decision-making, inter-agency coordination and the quality of services delivered to citizens.
Arabi reaffirmed the BPSR’s commitment to promoting institutional efficiency, innovation, accountability and improved public service delivery.
